North Central State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
Sunday, September 29, 2002 16:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After a parachute drop flight, the airplane taxied back to the ramp area. The airplane was parked on the ramp, with the engine running, while the next group of parachutists were boarding the airplane. During that time, a parachutist who had just landed, contacted the propeller and sustained a serious injury. Witnesses reported observing the parachutist descending toward the airplane without altering her course. One witness reported he "tackled" the parachutist to the ground; however, the parachute became entangled in the airplane's propeller and subsequently dragged the parachutist into the propeller. The parachutist had completed an estimated 18 prior jumps, which included 4 jumps at the accident airport. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident were calm.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The parachutist's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in contact with the operating propeller of a parked airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Pawtucket
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02860
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415514N
Event Location Longitude 0712928W
Event Location Airport NORTH CENTRAL STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 441
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SFZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 441
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries 1
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13424
NTSB Notification Source Pilot in Command
NTSB Notification Date Sep 30 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Bedford

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9347B
NTSB Number NYC02LA199
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 208B0059
Certified Max Gross Weight 8750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kevin McCole
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Gardner
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01440
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Boston-Providence Skydiving Center
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6 Albion Rd.
Operator City Lincoln
Operator State RI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 02865
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SFZ
Departure City Pawtucket
Departure State RI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SFZ
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - engine(s) operating
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 19 2003 3:41PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --